Anita Bender

Anita Bender, 90, of Brenham, died March 5, 2014, in Brenham Nursing and Rehab Center in Brenham. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham with Pastor Matthew Jacobs officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Lea Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, March 7 at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Mrs. Bender was born June 8, 1923, in Germania, TX, to Willie and Sophie Tiemann Winkelmann. She was baptized Aug. 5, 1923 and was confirmed March 21, 1937. She attended Germania School. On March 11, 1944, she was married to Henry W. Bender. She worked as a cook for Brenham Independent School District for 37 years. After she retired she helped her grandson at the restaurant On Deck. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Women''s Missionary League. She was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother and friend who tried to help everybody. Survivors include her son, Marcus Bender of Brenham; daughter-in-law, Sharon Bender of Brenham; grandchildren, Ryan Bender, Angie Wheeler and husband Steve and Billy Bender and fiancée Courtney; great-grandchildren, Hunter Bender, Caeden Barnes and Shelby Wheeler; brothers and sisters-in-law, Odel and June Winkelmann of Navasota, Leroy and Delores Winkelmann of Bellville, Judy Bender of Brenham and Elsie Vierus of Brenham; and sisters and brother-in-law, Esther Dahmann and Earline and Ernest Wellmann, all of Brenham. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Henry W. Bender; son, Allen Ray Bender; grandson, Bradley; brothers and sisters-in-law, Raymond and Louise Winkelmann, Reinhard and Myrtle Winkelmann, Willie and Alita Winkelmann and Wilbert and Laverna Winkelmann; and sister and brother-in-law, Ida and Bill Schwartz; and brothers-in-law, Freddie Dahmann, Wilbert Vierus and Herbert Bender. Pallbearers will be Donald Winkelmann, Robert Winkelmann, Billy Winkelmann, Wilbert Lee Winkelmann, Fred Dahmann and Wade Wellmann. Honorary pallbearers are Waldine Brinkmeyer and Peggy Schmidt. Memorials may be given to Grace Lutheran Church of Brenham. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., Brenham, TX 77833, 979-836-4564. To post a tribute to the family, visit: www.memorialoakschapel.com.